Airlines revamping loyalty programmes to keep loyal passengers amid Covid-19

Some loyalty programmes may just allow customers to shop for premium items at airports at an even lower discounted rate. — Postcardtrip

Frequent flying isn’t so much of a thing right now, but loyalty programmes are in many cases getting better as airlines fight to keep customers and generate sorely needed revenue after the coronavirus ransacked travel.

Introduced nearly 50 years ago, air miles are a way for the industry to make money. Aside from locking in repeat customers by helping them accumulate trips, airlines sell miles to credit card companies, banks, hotels and other businesses for billions of dollars. This revenue source is crucial now that the pandemic has thrown aviation into crisis, and airlines are piling in with new offers such as bonus points and lowering thresholds to qualify for more perks.